Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the NWT has allocated $23 million from the federal government for the COVID-19 pandemic, I'd like to know in detail about how the allocated funds and expenditures were spent. Can the Minister provide some specific details in how this money was spent? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister of Finance identified on her May 27th statement, we're all fortunate that Canada has provided $23 million to support the GNWT's response to offset some of the costs related to the COVID-19. A grant agreement was finalized with the Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada on May 11, 2020. The $23.4 million from CIRNAC is to assist the GNWT with the COVID-related costs on the health system. In discussions with Canada, it was indicated that they will be flexible on how funding can be utilized as long as it is substantial, and the costs were incremental due to COVID-19. Department of Finance is working with department and public agencies to track all the incremental costs that are due to this pandemic. The most recent projections for the GNWT is almost $39 million in COVID-related costs, of which $13.9 is specifically related to some of the health system response. The projection for the health system is also based on the current level of response that is associated to the end of September. The Department of Health and Social Service's authorities are continuing to actively monitor some of their costs. The current projected costs specifically for the health system include new or expanded programs, service and supplies directly to support COVID response such as services to vulnerable population, Protect NWT 811 call centres, the COVID compliance and enforcement task team, screeners at the hospitals, public health units, virtual care, rapid testing tools, drive-through testing, and more.
I expect a detailed accounting of the $23 million at some point during the time of our government. How is the Department of Health and Social Services preparing the regional centres and small communities for the second wave of COVID-19?
There have been daily meetings with the regional teams to prepare for the COVID-19 response in small communities. Education and training include COVID testing procedures, infection prevention and control measures, point of care, risk assessment, and more. Additionally, there are regular service and staffing updates provided to the territorial operation, a scan easily to assess situation in any community if there is a requirement for support.
Does the Department of Health and Social Services have a plan to ensure that regional centres and small community nursing stations are considered in the master plan to ensure our residents are safe for both mental and physical health?
Ensuring small communities can respond to the COVID-19 has been a top priority for the authorities and in their planning after this pandemic. We also recognize that they are our most vulnerable part of our health system should an outbreak occur. The first priority is, of course, to prevent the introduction of COVID-19 in our small communities, which the CPHO has constantly expressed and has taken action to ensure. Nonetheless, we need to be prepared to respond should this happen. The first priority will be on preventing the spread of COVID-19. This means we have to be focusing on training for testing, including in the communities where there is no resident nurse; readiness to contact trace anyone who tests positive and make sure all possible contacts are tested; sending in staff to also support, virtual technology to ensure that staff are ready to support self-isolation and monitoring of any residents who test positive have been contacted. In the event that the resident becomes ill with COVID-19, we may need to transfer to them to a hospital for care. The authorities have also mapped out a detailed process to move patients to hospital centres like Stanton to receive this care in the most seamless way possible.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How is the Department of Health and Social Services working to ensure that small communities and regional centres are equipped with proper PPE and medical procedures to ensure that all residents are properly looked after in future pandemics or even in other emergencies? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority monitors the inventory of swabs for COVID testing and the PPE stock to ensure that community has adequate stock. There is also an inventory maintained for emergency drugs used in COVID-19 for each of the communities to ensure that they have sufficient stock. Oxygen supplies are also monitored to make sure that we have adequate supply on hand. The department is looking at ways to ensure that we are prepared. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
